Mimimum investment to start quilting ?
 

If someone had absolutely nothing in the way of sewing supplies - no machine, no books, no fabric, no thread, no needles, no cutting equipment (no sicossors), nothing related to sewing - and wanted to make a lap size quilt (approximately 45 x 60) - approximately what would it cost?

Great question! That depends on a lot of factors...does the person have access to borrow a sewing machine, are they going to purchase it new or perhaps a yard sale or 2nd hand shop? Do they have a quilting friend that could loan them a cutting mat and rotary cutter or are they close to a Joann's and can use their coupons to get a discount on these items? Are they going to purchase the fabric at a quilt shop or a discount shop (like Joann's) or online? It could run from under $100 to $500...or more. Too many factors to say exactly how much. I know my sewing machine was used but still cost me $1200 BUT it has lasted for 8 years and will go for many more. A lot of my accessories I've gotten at yard sales, estate sales and Joann's (using coupons) BUT I've had 8 years to accumulate them. Fabric can be as little as $4 a yard or over $12 a yard...it depends on where it's purchased and the quality. I know many people use old cotton clothing from 2nd hand stores for fabric too.

I just started doing this about 2 years ago, and I was taking a class that was making a quilt about that size. Let me try to remember.

I'll talk about the machine at the end of this post.

Cutting mat, rotary cutter, and ruler I bought in a kit by Fiskars. That runs about $54.99 at JoAnn's - now half off. I also used a half off coupon when I bought it, so let's say $30 for that.

Scissors probably run about $8.

Books would depend, but I'd say $0 because most of that can be found online. Maybe $10 for a Craftsy pattern. I've also found craft books at Goodwill for super cheap, about $.50

Fabric and batting - for that size quilt, at a place like JoAnn's you are probably looking at $150+. At a quilt store, at least $200. And I'm really bad at estimating costs for fabric (ask me how I know...) so that's probably super conservative.

Thread - about $8.

Needles - about $5.

As for the machine - it varies greatly. I realized that the new machines I could afford would not likely last long and wouldn't be worth the investment, and the ones that would last would have run me probably $500 +. So I ended up going the vintage machine route. I happened to be very lucky and had my Grandmother's FW sitting in the closet. I got that all tuned up and ready to go (last servicing/use had been in the 1970's!) for $90. I eventually picked a nice 70's Kenmore that does zigzag and other stiches for $50 (and that came with a nice sewing basket!). So....for a machine you can spend just about $0 or thousands of dollars depending. For my purposes, I'm going to say $100 for a machine.

So, that's $311. And that's a very conservative estimate. I'd say you could easily be looking at $500. It's a very costly hobby! And that doesn't factor in the fabric addiction that will develop and the money sink that becomes! :rolleyes:

I think if you went with low cost clearance fabric or even thrift store men's shirts, scissors, needle, thread and then batting, you could do it for less than $100 actually. But it would all be hand sewn/quilted and take quite a bit of time. The most expensive part could actually be the batting. I am specifically thinking of the hexagon GFG quilts. You can print free paper ones, but do have to cut them out.

Quilting used to be much less expensive until we decided we needed all the tools, such as the rotary cutter, mat, rulers, etc. Leftover dress fabric was used along with feedsacks.

If you go buy a sewing machine, rotary cutter, mat, ruler, thread, needles, batting, fabric, etc, I would agree it could easily run $500 or more.

Quilting isn't an inexpensive hobby but then so many hobbies require a larger investment. You really don't need everything that is listed. If she is a friend, I would let her borrow the basics. I have extra rulers, rotary cutter and an older mat.

Minus the sewing machine I probably spent $150 getting started.

Then again, you can do it with just scissors, ($5), needle and thread (another $5); used Goodwill-type fabric or old clothing of 100% cotton ($3-4); and a cheap batting (on sale, small, $8-10) for a total of $20-30; use an old milk carton for a template (cut with your $5 scissors); measure with a household ruler or a school ruler you swipe from one of the kids....it is possible to make a nicely done four-patch for next to nothing unless you really want to make the investment everyone has mentioned. Just sayin'.....

When I started (circa 1970) that $150 covered the sewing machine, too. LOL

Plus the cost of a beginning quilting class.

My sister used to chide me about the amount of money I spent on quilting stuff-I reminded her that I didn't smoke (she did) and that I had half a closet of clothing, most of which I had made (she had two closets full). Quilting brings me happiness so I spend my portion of money there. But I might add that few hobbies are cost free and probably not cost effective. I think its prudent to really think about how many rulers and gadgets you need or want to be responsible for. Lots to think about but If you find happiness in learning to quilt, welcome to our society of contented people.

If you use a rotary cutter please buy a cut resistant glove and wear it every time you cut with a rotary cutter.

Starter machine 100+
Ruler/mat- 50
Fabric for first quilt-100-150 depending on price
Dong hesitate to check ebay for scissors and rotary cutters, sometimes they are cheaper. I started with a low end brother and they can run from basic 75 to about 200. If you want something you can grow into a PC420 will run 400 so it is all what you are willing to invest

Wow, I didn't realize people were paying so much for quilting supplies. I'm an estate sale junkie - realizing also that I live in a large urban area where there are LOTS of estate sales every weekend - and I've picked up almost all my quilting supplies and fabric stash at estate sales, including my sewing machine, at incredible prices. At one estate sale alone, I acquired a huge library of books, patterns, magazines and newsletters for $40 - the woman had over 80 quilting books.

I love it! So glad you said it!

Here's the thing.

Most people don't start with "nothing" and decide one day, "I'm going to make a quilt". If someone decides they are going to "quilt", first they have already usually decided they are going to learn to "sew". If they really want to sew and don't have the supplies, they can usually spread the word among their friends, aunts, moms, mom's friends, etc. and "bam", they'd have the basic supplies, assuming they aren't picky.

You all really CAN make nice things from cheap thread, cheap fabric, etc. I've been working at a whole series of quilts made completely from "upcycled" fabrics. You can do it and it cuts those costs down.

With a coupon, the batting from Hobby Lobby would cost about $20, the fabric is "your choice"--from $0 (recycle what you already have) to $300-400. The thread, about $5 from Walmart for a rather large spool of Coats and Clark all cotton(if you must) for about $5, I think it was. I did this last fall, when I was in the states for my daughter's wedding and needed to buy thread. a rotary cutter, etc. in order to finish a quilt.

I've made these quilts from 100% upcycled fabrics. The thread (a couple of dollars for the piecing thread--the quilting thread was a bit more expensive but I don't buy it just for a certain quilt--I have big spools of it) and poly batting (about $5 per quilt) were new, obviously.
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and I've got a couple of tops that I've made from things purchased (cheaply) from local second-hand shops:

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I don't believe quilting is expensive at all.

It's one of the cheapest and most practical hobbies one can have.

Initially, the biggest expense would probably be a sewing machine but if you're handy you can fix up a used one fairly cheap

Needles, pins, thread and such are cheap. I buy scissors from the dollar store.

You can make your own templates out of old cereal or beer boxes

Batting can be purchased on sale

As a previous poster mentioned, upcycling clothes can work beatifully for piecing and if you use thrift store sheets backing can be really cheap.

I started with Dresden Plate pillows

I was 18 when I made my first quilt

Denim blocks with red sahing and dark blue calico cornerstones. Batting and backing were two old blankets. I tied it with some yarn I had laying around.

I used my mom's Morse Fotomatic and all her stuff. She hated to sew-just did mending so she didn't mind

The quilt wasn't a thing of beauty but it was good enough for picnics at the beach. I used nothing but old clothes to make it

It's a cheap hobby, IMO

It keeps me out of the store because I'd rather be sewing so I save money that way

Recently I made a purchase at JoAnn's without having the rest of the quilt fabric with me. When I got home, it was perfect with the others so asked my daughter (who lives near the store)to pick up an additional 2 yards for me for the quilt for her son. "Mom, are you used to paying that much for fabric?!" She grew up in 4-H and knows what fabric cost in those days of yore so it came as quite a shock to her what has happened to fabric prices.

If you are working on a lap size quilt, shop the remnant bins for small cuts. Good buys there, too. That's how my stash got started!

I was blessed to have a sister that quilted for many years. She made me a care package of supplies due to fact she had collected so much over the years. She had duplicates and triplicates of everything I needed to get started. She hit her stash and sent me a box of fabric. I sewed so I had a machine. She even gave me books and magazines to look through. Then I hit utube and practiced and less than three years later I have a great quilting room and many quilts constructed. It is a wonderful hobby that grows with you. Reading the post and actually thinking what it would have cost me had I not had my sister sharing with me makes me very thankful.

Like most hobbies or whatever it can be as much as you want to spend.
I use to sew clothes for myself and three kids so I already had somethings and gradually bought other things I wanted and thought would get me better results. In fact I still buy what I think will get me better results. I replace worn out supplies as often as I think they need to be replaced.
The only hobby I have now is quilt making and I make 10 -18 per year. I bought my fabrics at scattered times. Again fabrics can cost whatever one wants to spend.

justflyingin - those are beautiful quilts!

I think a problem a lot of us run into (myself I know) is we are collectors. I know I have probably five pairs of scissors, stacks of patterns, and just in general to much because I am an estate sale junkie and I can't say no to a sale. So even though the first quilt I ever made probably cost about fifty to sixty dollars now I have a collection of quilting/sewing accessories. Lol!

Thanks for the kind words.

I do tend to get frustrated with people when they say "how expensive" our hobby is. What hobby isn't expensive?

Golfing? Eating out? Scrapbooking? Boating? Skiing? Cross stitching? Painting? hmmm

Originally quilting was done by hand piecing and hand quilting old clothes. So, old clothes, needles, thread, scissors, maybe a sheet for the back or some more old clothes, and some sort of batting... (if any).... $30?

I have purchased some wonderful vintage Singer machines for $20- $25 each, some even came in cabinets. It doesn't have to be expensive.

That being said, I think most people come to quilting with some sort of sewing knowledge/background. So they would already have a machine and supplies to get started.

I am thinking that - even way back when - there were two main types of quilts -

"fancy/heirloom/company best/special" type quilts that the makers purchased new materials for - and then the ones made from "whatever" that were made primarily for warmth.

Even the ones made from "whatever" seemed to fall into two categories - some appeared to have had planned layouts - and others were "just put together".

I see where others have come up with some good estimates, but I do believe quilting and especially sewing in general is such a valuable life skill and/or hobby. People find ways to save all the time if they really want to, but whatever you put out in money will be returned to you tenfold in a fulfilling life skill.

A view from the other side... some of the younger "just starting" quilters would do well to hook up with some older ladies that are isolated for one reason or another. Many of them can no longer go to guild meetings, etc., but would be willing to teach these younger women what they know, share their skills (and their tools, and frequently even their fabric stashes) in their homes in exchange for a little good company and maybe a little help with grocery shopping or something like that. Maybe there would be fewer huge quilting estate sales if these women had someone they were passing their wonderful heritage on to!

If I really liked the person and they lived close enough, the could possibly make the top for free as I would gladly share my tools, supplies, and knowledge. I would share batting and backing if I have it available and it's what they want. If they liked quilting and wanted to continue I would share my coupons so they could start buying tools. This is how my DIL started. After the first one she spent about $75 buying a cheap machine, rotary cutter with mat and ruler set, a pair of scissors, and pins.

I agree! My first sewing machine was a "moving sale" 1960's Singer for $20 (loved that machine!), which came with the desk, and everything in the drawers (needles, scissors, thread, zippers....they were stuffed). I used old pillowcases, sheets and clothing I had on hand to practice. If you decide you enjoy your new hobby, you can upgrade as you see necessary....I always buy inexpensively.

I love this!

My DH keeps reminding me that the cost of materials and tools is usually balance by what I might have to spend at a therapist if I didn't have something that makes me feel so good...

If you want to take it all the way back to the way Grandma did it, you need cardboard for templates, a pencil to draw them and to trace the shapes onto fabric, scissors to cut the templates out and scissors to cut the fabric. Then you will need thread and needles to sew the fabrics together. You can use empty cereal boxes -- cost -0-; a #2 pencil -- cost less than 25 cents; paper scissors -- a couple dollars at the dollar store. The most expensive item will be your fabric scissors. You do not want to skimp on those, so figure $25+. A spool of Gutterman 100% cotton thread will run you about $3 and needles will run you $1 for 12 (or $2 for the John James Big Eye needles). So total cost to start would run you less than $30 for your tools, plus the cost of your fabrics and batting. Patterns are available for free on the Internet.

Of course, I don't know anyone who wants to trace and cut out templates and fabrics by hand, and very few quilters I know do hand piecing. So you will need a self-healing mat, rotary cutter, and ruler to cut your fabrics. Then you will need a sewing machine and thread for sewing the pieces together. You will need a good pair of scissors and a pair of small snips for clipping threads. And you will definitely need a seam ripper.

Quilting is like every other hobby I have had. You get out of it what you put into it. I started quilting in 1999 with a sewing machine I had purchased in 1971 for $75. I bought good tools (a self-healing mat, an ergonomic rotary cutter, rulers with clear black lines [I hate the yellow ones] and good scissors) that weren't the most expensive, but weren't the cheapest on the rack, either.

You need to make a list of the items you need, surf the web and start comparing prices. JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby always have discount coupons. Check out the sale bins on Missouri Star Quilt Company and Quilt In A Day. Look at Amazon.com Be sure to figure in the cost of shipping, too. Some sites require a certain $ amount before they waive the shipping costs.

If you think this will be the only quilt you'll ever make, don't go to the expense of purchasing your tools if you don't have to. Find a friend who quilts and ask them if you can borrow their tools.

the cost of a machine aside (used $50 up to crazy numbers!), you can make your first quilt pretty cheap. Considering you will probably keep it yourself and it is a learning experience, use fabric you have or can get cheap - sheets, old cotton blouses etc. Use a flannel/thin fleece blanket for the batting backing ($5 at target). What you do need to purchase new would be a mat, ruler, rotary cutter and scissors. a 50% coupon at Joanns is a good deal. I would also get a seam ripper - we all need that! - a neutral thread (I like a taupe or grey), a small ruler (like a hem gauge) pins and needles. This would be the basics that would help the most. Then you can keep adding things along the way. I am also assuming you already have an iron - almost as important as the sewing machine!!! The 2 most critical components don't cost anything, but are often the most difficult. You need to develop patience and learn to not be overcritical of your work. Something many of us continue to work on daily.

Check the internet for free beautiful patterns and tutorials on how to make a quilt, how to use cutters and supplies, the amount of information is endless. Read this quilting board also for all kinds of help. Start small like a simple lap quilt of 4 patch then branch out to more advanced patterns. It is wonderful therapy if you have patients and don't easily get discouraged.

Check WalMart.com for the prices of quilting tools - you might be surprised - some of their regular prices are less than Jo-Ann's even with using a 50% off coupon.

So glad I read this. Nice to know I wasn't the only person that had to buy a sewing machine because she wanted to make a quilt!

I wanted to add that you can find good quality fabric at garage and rummage sales also, unless you are the type to use only "collections" of designer fabrics, but I have found so much at garage sales that DH is thrilled when I do, cause he knows I am saving a ton of money. Most of my stash has been aquired this way since I went on disability. I will suggest you wash any and all fabric found this way, since not everyone is a picky as I am about used stuff not being clean to my standards, (or new for that matter.) I can actually state truthfully that except for the fabric I have bought at the LQS, most of my stash was around a dollar per yard. Second hand stores are another resource for fabric or clothing to recycle.

OP you can also google frugal quilting tips. In between that and the members of this forum you'll get a ton of great information.

There are so many great members here with a wealth of knowledge

Just about any problem you might encounter-it can be about the quilting process or even a misbehaving sewing machine-will be met with lots of helpful advice and encouragement

This forum is full of kind hearted quilting experts!

I made my first quilt about 2 years ago and prior to that, I had no sewing experience. I bought most of my supplies from Joann's during sales or with coupons and spent about $280 to make a lap size quilt.

Joann's
Sewing machine: ~$100 (on sale)
Cutting mat/ruler/rotary cutter set: ~$30 (50% off)
Batting: ~$10
Straight pins and safety pins: ~$8

LQS
Fabric: ~$100
Thread: ~8

Online:
Walking foot and 1/4 inch foot: ~20

Oh yes, you always make such beautiful quilts, justflyingin.....

This has been a fun thread to read, thanks for starting it

You could also put out a message on Freecycle and asked for a sewing machine that is in good condition. You don't pay for anything on Freecycle, you just need to go to their site: freecycle.org. They will ask you where you live and you go from there and sign up for your area. You can also ask for sewing supplies and fabric. You'd be surprised what you can get from freecycle. I've personally have given away 4 sewing machines on freecycle.

By the way, you can also give things away on freecycle. A great way to purge your house when you don't have time to take things to the thrift stores. It is amazing what things people will claim. Believe it or not, since I have been with freecycle I've seen people give away 6 featherweight machines and 3 pedal machines. I've never been fast enough to get one though.

Regarding the sewing machine: you don't neccessarily have to use a sewing machine. Do it the way our great grandmothers did -- by hand and if you really want to get be authentic like our great, great, great grandmothers sew by candle light. LOL